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Xbox affected as Microsoft executes new round of layoffs

July 11, 2025July 6, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, and other gamers!

It has been more than a week since Microsoft announced its latest round of layoffs affecting not only thousands of employees but also Team Xbox, its game studios and certain game projects as well.

To be clear, this is not the first time Microsoft had layoffs this year but it is much more significant because the latest layoff round hit Xbox really hard and already Xbox fans and gamers saw their excitement about future video games drop. It is important to keep in mind that Microsoft and its Xbox division are both profitable which makes the new round of layoffs baffling to some. So far this year, over 15,000 employees were laid of by the technology giant. With the layoffs affecting Xbox’s developers and projects, there are matters that concerned both the Xbox fans and gamers who could have joined in.

Firstly, the Xbox game studio The Initiative will be closing down and their high-profile game Perfect Dark (which involved Crystal Dynamics) has officially been cancelled. This is tragic because Team Xbox had the opportunity to reboot the decades-old Perfect Dark franchise, delight the long-time PD fans while offering other gamers something new and exciting to play. A lot of gamers have been anticipating Perfect Dark for many years now only to end up frustrated.

Secondly, the successful and reliable Xbox game studio Turn 10 saw several of its employees laid off and their team will reportedly work as a supporter for Playground Games. For the newcomers reading this, Turn 10 created and built up the Forza Motorsport franchise of simulation racing games that started in 2005. To see Turn 10 get demoted and work on support duty for Playground Games on the Forza Horizon franchise is just very odd and baffling. Could this mean that Forza Motorsport (2023) is the last game of its franchise? Do you think a leaner Turn 10 will still be able to make another Forza Motorsport game?

Thirdly, the much-delayed Xbox game Everwild got cancelled and its developer also suffered from the Microsoft layoffs. This unfortunate development only added to the perception that developer Rare (the team behind many hit games it made with Nintendo decades ago) kept going downhill creatively, critically and commercially. Considering how long the game development lasted, I can only imagine that many millions of Dollars were spent on Everwild and Microsoft decided to pull the plug.

Fourthly and most notably, Xbox head Phil Spencer’s official email (addressed to employees) related with the huge layoffs was revealed and its content has been posted below for you to see. Some parts in boldface…

Today we are sharing decisions that will impact colleagues across our organization. To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft’s lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness. Out of respect for those impacted today, the specifics of today’s notifications and any organizational shifts will be shared by your team leaders in the coming days.

I recognize that these changes come at a time when we have more players, games, and gaming hours than ever before. Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger. The success we’re seeing currently is based on tough decisions we’ve made previously. We must make choices now for continued success in future years and a key part of that strategy is the discipline to prioritize the strongest opportunities. We will protect what is thriving and concentrate effort on areas with the greatest potential, while delivering on the expectations the company has for our business. This focused approach means we can deliver exceptional games and experiences for players for generations to come.

*Do you miss the good old days of Xbox? Are you a long-time Xbox gamer who became disappointed over Team Xbox’s decisions and releases? You are not alone!*

Prioritizing our opportunities is essential, but that does not lessen the significance of this moment. Simply put, we would not be where we are today without the time, energy, and creativity of those whose roles are impacted. These decisions are not a reflection of the talent, creativity, and dedication of the people involved. Our momentum is not accidental—it is the result of years of dedicated effort from our teams.

HR is working directly with impacted employees to provide severance plan benefits (aligned with local laws), including pay, healthcare coverage, and job placement resources to support their transition. Employees whose roles were eliminated are encouraged to explore open positions across Microsoft Gaming, where their applications will be given priority review.

Thank you to everyone who has shaped our culture, our products, and our community. We will move forward with deep appreciation and respect for all who have contributed to this journey.

This is my opinion about Spencer’s message…as head of Xbox, Spencer is really powerless and he has no choice but to follow orders from Microsoft’s top management whose views about video game culture and interests do not really match with what we gamers and the game makers have. For Microsoft’s leadership, they have a business to run but it is clear that gaming (electronic entertainment) won’t be going away soon and they will keep investing more money in video game projects. Of course, Microsoft expects healthy returns on its investments which is why they will keep the Game Pass subscription service moving, offer games to varied users (console, computer, mobile and cloud) and they will push through with the next-generation Xbox with AMD as a bigger strategic partner.

Regarding layoffs reaching thousands, it is depressing on face value because those who lost their jobs will have to deal with the high costs of living in first world economies like the United States and in parts of Europe. However, I see an opportunity that others cannot see…the opportunity for Team Xbox to get rid of their least-productive employees as well as laying off the woke activists scattered among the employees of the many Xbox game studios. As seen in entertainment over the past several years, woke activists working in movies, video games, comic books and TV shows do not prioritize quality, do not care about the fans, and they keep on abusing the company resources as they prioritized their Leftist agenda. Is it any wonder why modern entertainment sucks? Did you notice the use of pronouns in Xbox games?

To be fair, Microsoft and Team Xbox both have been woke for years already. In America, the tone of society has changed drastically ever since Donald Trump successfully returned as United States President. Perhaps Microsoft and Xbox executives realized that they should get rid of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) from their business practices and corporate culture before the wave of change under Trump’s America leaves them behind. As of this writing, Trump is making America great again and the woke know they are losing the culture war.

As US President Trump is reshaping America to be great again, meritocracy has become essential too. This means DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) really has no place in government, business, entertainment and culture. DEI must DIE!

I can only speculate that as Xbox game studios each have less employees to work with, there could be a renewed effort to focus more on making high-quality video games that are both enjoyable to play and worth the money of customers. The Outer Worlds 2, which will be released this October, has an eye-catching American price of $79.99 (regular edition) and already a lot of gamers – including The Outer Worlds fans – find the price excessive.

The way things are right now, the future of Xbox looks gloomy and the excitement of the Xbox fans and other gamers have weakened. That being said, we can only wait and see what will happen next in the near future. Perhaps a month from now, Team Xbox will clarify what direction they are headed to and what exciting projects or events fans can still look forward to.

How do you gamers feel about Xbox gaming right now? If you are an Xbox fan, are you feeling disappointed with the cancellation of Perfect Dark and Everwild? Do you think it is time for Team Xbox’s leadership to be changed now that Microsoft impacted the gaming projects and work forces?

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Nationwide voter registration for BSKE set for August 1 to 10, 2025

July 11, 2025July 10, 2025carlocarrasco

In preparation for the next edition of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that the nationwide voter registration process will be held from August 1 to 10, 2025, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the resumption of the nationwide voter registration next month for the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) later this year.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the Commission’s seven-member panel has approved the holding of the 10-day voter registration activities from Aug. 1 to 10.

“The Commission en banc has approved the resumption of voter registration for the BSKE,” he said in an interview.

He noted that the resumption of the voter registration has been decided to ensure that those looking to vote in the village and youth polls will be able to vote, particularly those aged 15 to 17 years old.

“We are still waiting if the BSKE will push through or not. The problem is, if it pushes through on Dec. 1 and we have not conducted voter registration, we won’t have voters, especially in the 15 to 17 years old age group,” he explained.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has yet to sign the proposed bill setting the terms of village and youth officials.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that the BSKE will push through this year? Are many voters aged 15 to 17-years-old in your local community eager to vote in the Sangguniang Kabataan polls?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

America sets 20% tariff on Philippine goods and will take effect on August 1, 2025

July 11, 2025July 10, 2025carlocarrasco

Starting August 1, 2025, the United States of America (USA) will impose a 20% tariff on all and any Philippine-made products coming into their shores as stated in US President Donald Trump’s official letter to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. In response, the Philippines wants to renegotiate with America while there is still time.

For the newcomers reading this, America previously set a 17% tariff on the Philippines when Trump unveiled last April the many tariff rates on many nations. The Philippines was confident about the negotiations they had with their American counterparts.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine government is looking to renegotiate the 20 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Philippine goods, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

In a letter dated July 9 addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., US President Donald Trump announced that beginning Aug. 1, 2025, the US will raise tariffs on Philippine goods to 20 percent—up from the previously announced 17 percent rate.

In a text message to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday morning, Romualdez said Manila would formally request a review of the tariff hike from Washington D.C.

Trump, in his letter, recognized the Philippine-US trade relations and said the latter has “agreed to continue working with the Philippines, despite having a significant trade deficit.”

“Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge the Philippines a Tariff of only 20 percent on any and all Philippine products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs,” it read.

Trump said there would be “no tariff if the Philippines, or companies within” the country decide to build or manufacture products within the US.

The US, he added, is also open to “reconsider an adjustment” if the country opens its “closed trading markets to the United States,” and eliminates its “tariff, and non-tariff policies and trade barriers.”

“These tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country,” he said.

Trump, meanwhile, warned Manila against reciprocating the move with a tariff increase.

“If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 20 percent that we charge,” he said.

For transparency, posted below is the 2-page letter of Trump to Marcos regarding tariffs.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines fell short in its recent negotiations with the United States which resulted in a higher tariff at 20%? Do you think the economic managers of the Philippines can convince America to delay, if not lower, the declared tariff? Do you think a 20% tariff rate by America will hurt the economy of the Philippines this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines tourism industry failing to attract many foreign visitors this year

July 10, 2025July 14, 2025carlocarrasco

Based on the latest international tourism statistics and analysis for 2025, the Philippines is clearly failing to attract foreign tourists when compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors, according to a news article by VnExpress.

For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines attracted 5.95 million foreign tourists in 2024 and generated more than P760 billion in tourism revenue. The entire Philippine tourism industry registered an 8.9% share of the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) for 2024. The nation’s tourism industry had a strong start of over P65 billion in revenue for January 2025.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the VnExpress news article. Some parts in boldface…

An online debate has erupted on social media as users wonder why the Philippines, with its rich nature, culture, and cuisine, is being overlooked by foreign tourists in favor of destinations like Vietnam and Thailand.

Thea Tan, a Filipino, posted on her X account in May expressing frustration over the Philippines’ underwhelming tourism numbers despite offering what other countries dream of: breathtaking beaches, vibrant culture, incredible food, and the warmest locals.

“So, why are tourists still choosing Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali over us?” she asked.

The post quickly went viral, accumulating over 9,000 likes and hundreds of comments.

In the first quarter of the year, Malaysia topped the list of most-visited Southeast Asian countries, with 10.1 million arrivals, followed by Thailand (9.55 million), Vietnam (6 million), and Singapore (4.3 million). By April, the Philippines had only welcomed 2.1 million visitors.

In 2024, the country saw 5.9 million foreign tourists, falling short of the government’s target of 7.7 million and far behind its regional neighbors including Cambodia, which had 6.7 million visitors.

Many online users, like Tan, argue that the Philippines is not considered a top priority destination in ASEAN.

“We are tiring out tourists with poor infrastructure and complicated transportation,” Tan noted.

Even locals find domestic travel expensive and difficult, let alone for foreign visitors, according to comments on the post.

“The Philippines has beautiful beaches, delicious food, and friendly people, but it lacks roads, reliable airports, and public transportation. Most importantly, the prices here are too high,” one local shared.

Another netizen pointed out, “In all the countries you’ve mentioned, their capitals are also tourist destinations. Manila, on the other hand, is boring for tourists. We don’t have decent museums or historical tours, and moving around in Manila is not easy either.”

A netizen added, “The government isn’t investing in quality tourist facilities and infrastructure like our neighboring countries. That’s where we’re lagging behind.“

Recently, the Philippines was ranked as the most dangerous destination by U.K. financial comparison site HelloSafe in a survey dismissed by the Philippines’ tourism experts as biased and misleading.

Victor Lim, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that the Philippines must improve its infrastructure and enhance safety measures to establish itself as a leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia, Philstar reported.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Department of Tourism and its strategic partners should get together and come up with hard adjustments to make the Philippines more attractive to foreigners? What do you think are the five biggest problems of the tourism industry of the country? Do you consider tourism-related awards crucial to the Philippines’ ability to attract visitors from around the world?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Inflation Rate Rises to 1.4% in June 2025

July 10, 2025July 4, 2025carlocarrasco

After back-to-back months of shrinking, the headline inflation of the Philippines inched up to 1.4% for the month of June 2025, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). By comparison, May 2025 inflation rate was 1.3%.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Headline inflation continued to remain below the lower end of the government’s target range in June, despite a slight uptick due to a faster increase in non-food prices.

In a briefing on Friday, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said headline inflation settled at 1.4 percent in June from 1.3 percent in May.

This brings the year-to-date average inflation to 1.8 percent, well within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

Mapa said the slight uptick in headline inflation was driven by higher non-food inflation (1.9 percent from 1.5 percent), with faster price increases observed in electricity (7.4 percent from 2.8 percent) and education (5.4 percent from 4.2 percent). Food inflation, however, eased to 0.1 percent during the month from 0.7 percent in May.

Mapa said the deceleration of food inflation in June was mainly due to the annual decrease in the prices of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses at 2.8 percent from an annual increase of 3.4 percent in the previous month. Rice deflation also hit a record low of 14.3 percent in June.

Mapa said the rollout of the government’s PHP20 per kg. rice program also contributed to the decline, especially in regular-milled rice prices.

In a separate statement, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said government measures to stabilize food supply, boost agriculture, and improve logistics helped ease food inflation during the month.

“The sharp decline in food inflation over the past year underscores the continued progress in our coordinated efforts to boost local production, improve logistics, and implement calibrated trade and biosecurity measures,” DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

“We will sustain these interventions and complement them with targeted initiatives to ensure a continuous, stable supply and shield consumers from future price pressures.”

To further strengthen food supply chains, DEPDev said the Department of Agriculture (DA) would intensify the implementation of industry recovery and expansion programs, such as the Swine Industry Recovery Project and Livestock Economic Enterprise Development, to accelerate the rehabilitation of the hog industry and restore the pre-African Swine Fever hog population levels.

The DA will also establish the country’s first Onion Research and Extension Center in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija for the development of effective methods to combat pests and diseases, enhance seed quality, and increase farm yields.

The Department of Energy, meanwhile, has partnered with private oil companies to offer fuel discounts to motorists affected by oil price fluctuations amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think inflation rate of the Philippines will be able to settle below 2% per month until the end of the year? If you are managing a local business, how much of an impact did inflation have on your business?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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12 Arrested in Parañaque City for Illegal Online Gambling

July 8, 2025July 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers apprehended twelve people – taxi and transport drivers – over their engagement in illegal online gambling, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Operatives from the Southern Police District (SPD) arrested taxi and transport drivers engaged in illegal online gambling inside a transportation hub in Paranaque City on July 3.

SPD Director Brig. Gen. Randy Arceo identified the suspects as taxi drivers Mark, 35; Reynante, 43; Gilleard, 52; Jimmy, 54; Ely, 38; Rodel, 48; Ronaldo, 63; Sunny, 51; and Joeuie, 50; Conrado, 41, a ride-hailing driver; John Robert, 50, a modern jeep conductor; and Domingo, 43.

Arceo said members of the SPD- Special Operation Unit (DSOU), with support from the District Intelligence Division (DID) and the Paranaque City Police Substation 3, arrested the suspects at the PITX Taxi Lane in Barangay Tambo, Paranaque City, at around 10:30 p.m.

He said police operatives acted on complaint from a concerned citizen that a group of taxi drivers were engaged in online cockfighting or “E-sabong” while waiting for passengers.

The SPD chief said the arrested taxi drivers engaged in guerrilla-style gambling, causing them to overcharge their passengers for their fares to recover from their losses.

Police recovered two mobile phones used in placing bets and betting money amounting to ₱3,545.

The suspects were brought to the DSOU-SPD Office and were charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 on illegal gambling.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that illegal online gambling will get worse over the next six months? Is online gambling happening in your local community right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Look Back at Superman #412 (1985)

July 7, 2025July 1, 2025carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1980s to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).

For the newcomers reading this, the original multiverse of DC Comics formally ended with Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-1986). That being said, a lot of DC’s monthly comic book series had respective tales the reflect the closing period of the old multiverse (which lasted for decades) and the Superman monthly series of the era was part of the trend.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #412, published in 1985 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins at the unemployment bureau in Metropolis. Clark Kent, who recently lost his jobs with WGBS and the Daily Planet, stands in line and waits for his turn. Being unemployed, Clark feels troubled and other people nearby recognize him.

As his turn at the counter starts, Clark senses something and decides to get out quickly. He enters the emergency exit, changes into Superman and flies out of the building. It turns out a high-rise building accident has occurred and already several pieces of sharp glass have been falling down. To prevent further harm, Superman uses his heat vision to convert the falling glass and collectively turn them into a growing molten ball. He brings the giant molten ball to the top of the building (still in construction/expansion) and meets the hard-hat workers before flying away.

Elsewhere, Lana Lang announces news to TV viewers regarding the dismissal her of close friend Clark Kent which was the result of the fake headline news story about Superman and the NASA satellite. In another location, Lex Luthor is very pleased watching the same broadcast knowing his plan of ruining Superman succeeded and got Clark Kent as a fake news casualty. Luthor is not done with Superman yet…

Quality

*Lex Luthor here is ruthless, strategic and obsessed with defeating Superman.*

I really like this Superman tale. This is a story about Superman who is still dedicated to doing acts of good by helping people with problems even though he is socially in deep trouble being unemployed as Clark Kent. Not only is the unemployment aspect relevant, the consequences of fake news and their negative effect on people made this tale more socially relevant with today’s world of fake news and unethical journalism.

Going back to Superman, it is clear that the embarrassment and unemployment of his civilian identity impacted him as a superhero. This is evident when Lana Lang accused him of betraying Clark Kent resulting in a fake news story that led to the firing by WGBS and the Daily Planet. Lana, who does not realize Superman and Clark are the same person, blamed the Man of Steel that the firing of Clark is so devastating to her as she cares for him so much (note: Clark and Lana were romantically involved during their teenage years at Smallville).

The powerful writing by Cary Bates does not end there. In this comic book, you will see Lex Luthor execute his other plans to ruin Superman whom he personally accused over the loss of his family and his own world Lexor (click here and here for references). This is a Luthor who is not simply being evil but also someone who is well organized, strategic and even fearless. By this stage, the criminal mad scientist Luthor has accumulated a lot of resources to have his own headquarters, technologies and a dedicated staff. In some ways, Luthor in this comic book eerily resembled his financial tycoon version in the post-Crisis era (click here and here for relevance).

I should also state that the personal encounter between Superman and Luthor here is a great pay-off to the build-up that preceded it. You readers should see it for yourselves because to reveal more in this review will ruin it.

Conclusion

*As Lana Lang delivers the news to TV viewers regarding Clark Kent and Superman, tension is brewing over at the Daily Planet.*

Superman #412 (1985) is undeniably a great Superman story published during the very late stage of the original multiverse (note: Superman #423 was one of the final tales of Superman of this particular era. Superman #424 was part of the post-Crisis era). The portrayal of Superman being disturbed by the huge setback he suffered as a civilian is really compelling to see and his encounter with Lex Luthor really brought the tension and suspense to high levels. At the same time, the consequences of Superman’s actions (including those of his civilian form as Clark Kent) are very evident and nicely dramatized by the Bates-Swan team. You really feel that the creators were wrapping up their Superman stories and decided to move this series to a new direction knowing that the original multiverse will end. This is a must-read tale!

Overall, Superman #412 (1985) is highly recommended.

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NBI Arrests 9 in Parañaque Over Car Financing Scam

July 7, 2025July 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested a group of nine people – six foreigners and three locals – for their involvement in a car financing scam, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested three Filipinos and six Indian nationals for their alleged involvement in an “assume balance-talon” scheme.

In a statement on Friday, NBI Director Jaime Santiago identified the suspects as Teotima Batutay, Rose Torion and Michael Castulo, and Indian nationals Sajjan Sarkar, Sai Charan, Kulvatnh Thati, Gayatri Sarma, Ray Anand, and Nithin Kamepalli.

They were arrested on June 24 in Parañaque City and charged with carnapping and syndicated estafa.

According to the NBI, the complainant said he failed to pay the monthly amortization of the subject vehicle to a bank and offered it for sale on the “assume balance” process.

The said vehicle was assumed by a car dealer, which passed it to Batutay who allegedly sold the vehicle to Castulo. Castulo together with Sarkar, mortgaged it to Anand for PHP120,000.

The bank chased after the complainant after the amortizations fell due, and sought the recovery of the vehicle through Castulo.

However, Castulo demanded PHP450,000 from the complainant and even threatened to tear the car into parts if the money, which was later reduced to PHP250,000, was not given.

The complainant filed a report with the NBI, leading to the suspects’ arrest and the recovery of the vehicle.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that there are still gangs of both foreigners and locals who are committing scams and have yet to be caught? Do you think there will be more financial scams that will take place in Parañaque over the next six months?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Nineteen More Medicines VAT-Exempt in the Philippines

July 5, 2025July 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Following the recent announcement of several medicines declared exempted from the value-added tax (VAT), nineteen more medicines became VAT-exempt as a result of the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Nineteen maintenance and lifesaving medicines have been included in the list of those exempted from value added tax (VAT), benefiting more people.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday, said nine medicines were included under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 59-2025 issued on June 11, 2025 while the other 10 are covered by RMC 62-2025.

He said the inclusion of the medications for VAT exemption was based on the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Of the total, seven of these medicines are for cancer treatment; three each for diabetes, hypertension and mental illness; one each for high cholesterol, kidney disease, and tuberculosis.

“Ang mga ito ay mga maintenance at lifesaving medicines na ngayon ay hindi na papatawan ng VAT. Isang kongkretong hakbang para mas mapagaan ang gastuhin ng mga pasyente (These are maintenance and lifesaving medicines that will now be exempt from VAT. This move is a concrete step to lower patients’ expenses),” Lumagui said.

The BIR chief said both the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law provide VAT exemptions on certain health products.

He said BIR coordinates with the FDA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) among others to monitor compliance among pharmaceutical companies and drugstores regarding this price changes.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that a lot more medicines were declared VAT-exempt?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 87

July 4, 2025June 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Retrospective look back at Heaven’s Gate – If you love watching movies, have you ever seen Heaven’s Gate? That 1980 movie directed by Michael Cimino was a very expensive commercial and critical failure. Cimino had blank check power which drained United Artists’ funds and he executed a lot of moves to ensure authenticity for filming believing he had something great for cinema. While the movie has been praised a lot more since he re-cut the film (Criterion Collection Blu-ray is available online), it is important to look back at its history as it is a fact that its failure destroyed Cimino’s credibility as well as the New Hollywood era entirely. How was Isabelle Huppert hired, who led United Artists, what cases of animal cruelty happened and how the actors described the production can be seen in the Final Cut video below. For entertainment value, I added Critical Drinker’s explanatory video and the 3-part movie review by Cinema Snob.

#2 Animated portrayal of an ntense scene from the Jurassic Park novel – If you have seen Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, were you able to read the novel by Michael Crichton? I read the novel after seeing the film in 1993 and I was struck at how different literary Jurassic Park really was. The movie was not really based on it but inspired by it, and there were so many differences between them. The literary Jurassic Park was much more violent, John Hammond was greedy and self-centered, and there were two Tyrannosaurs. The novel also had memorable scenes that movie never adapted, and one of them was the violent encounter with the adult Tyrannosaur on the main road which was animated well by YouTuber InGen 2D. Watch the video below.

#3 The successful American strike on Iran’s nuclear sites explained – America’s successful bombing of three nuclear sites of terrorist state Iran was very tremendous politically and militarily. It helped Israel win its 12-day war with Iran and right now the wicked regime led by the Ayatollah has been weakened significantly as multiple military commanders and nuclear scientists have been eliminated. With Iran severely weakened, it won’t be able to fund and arm Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi terrorists. The Americans used stealth B-2 bombers which traveled into Iran undetected for the attack. To know the details, watch the explanatory video of TBN Israel below.

#4 Unsolved Mysteries Season 6 Episode 2 – I found another engaging episode of Unsolved Mysteries hosted by the late Robert Stack. The 2^nd episode from the sixth season of the show has an in-depth look at the Mystery Robber, an Australian pilot’s encounter with a UFO, and more. There is a lot to enjoy or discover in the episode below.

#5 Jurassic World revisited – It has been ten years since Jurassic World was first released in cinemas. While the movie was highly successful in terms of ticket sales, I myself did not enjoy it much and very clearly it was the further bastardization of dinosaurs and core concepts of Jurassic Park (both novel and the 1993 movie). Having more action and more dinosaurs with humans trapped on an island did not work for me and the only movie that executed those elements well as the first one directed by Spielberg. Still, there are lots of YouTubers who posted videos about Jurassic World and you can see how the movie impacts them and what they think about it in the selected videos below.

#6 You, Me and the Movies react to April Fool’s Day – Released in 1986, April Fool’s Day is a dark comedy, mystery, slasher film that follows several college students on an island estate. On face value, it looked like a typical slasher horror film but it offered moviegoers something else. You should watch how You, Me and Movies react to it in their video below.

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